Can normal people give birth to albinos?

According to studies and experiments made in medical field, normal people can, without any doubt, give birth to albinos. Families that have albino children should have an appropriate family planning, advices Doctor Elie Mupera, Dermatologist at Bujumbura Military Hospital.-By Yves Didier Irakoze

Dr Elie Mupera: “I advise people who have children who are albinos in their families to adopt an appropriate family planning in order to avoid this abnormality.”©Iwacu

“In medical field, there exist two kinds of genetic transmissions, one with a dominant trait and another with a recessive one. When the dominant trait occurs, it boldly appears physically but when there is a recessive trait someone can have abnormality without any appearance on the body,” states Dr Elie Mupera. Then, he says, two subjects, a husband and his wife apparently healthy persons having both recessive traits, can give birth to albinos. “This is the case where you can find in a family four albino children and the fifth child, a normal one.” This abnormality on chromosomes can have a hereditary defect that may be transmitted from generation to generation. “Then, if there is an albino in a family, others may probably have more chances to develop this kind of illness,” indicates Dr Mupera. Dr Mupera adds that there is no medicine to correct this genetic heritage. In fact, in developed countries, they are able to detect the abnormality of albinism before birth. “Here, in Burundi, we can’t. But even though they are able to detect the problem they can’t correct or change the abnormality. What is good is that experimentation activities are underway, maybe they will come up with a satisfactory solution to this genetic disorder,” points out Dr Mupera. He continues saying that the advantage of the step already reached is that there are basic management measures of the abnormality. This also helps people avoid complications related to skin cancer.

Good protection and care of albinos is a must

As far as consequences are concerned, albinos endure many problems in the society. They are often despised or rejected by their own families since they are considered as the source of evils in families and communities. So, like other people with disabilities, they need more attention, care and protection in the community rather than being excluded. “What is primarily needed is to integrate them because they have the same intellectual potentials and capacities as normal people. They only lack melanin, the source of the black skin complexion that protects people from any kind of cancer caused by the sun,” urges Dr Mupera. The government, civil society and members of the whole community have to take the issue very seriously by integrating and protecting more efficiently. Moreover, the population ought to be sensitized to the situation and understand that the case of albinos is not the one of a contaminating disease. “I advise people who have children who are albinos in their families to adopt an appropriate family planning in order to avoid this abnormality,” concludes Dr Mupera.